Trim attachment for power boats



Nov. 19, 1963 c, BENNETT 3,111,103

TRIM ATTACHMENT FOR POWER BOATS Filed April 9. 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 .26 27- T/zdd II I BY M yfmpww Nov. 19, 1963 c. H-BENNETT 3,111,103

TRIM ATTACHMENT FOR POWER BOATS Filed April 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR. can/Q45: A! as/m/zrr Nov. 19, 1963 c. H. BENNETT 3,111,103

TRIM ATTACHMENT FOR POWER sous Filed April 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet s m5, M A

INVENTOR- C 19/91? 5 M 8E/V/Vf77' BY M 4 Trek/V575 aired States This invention relates to beating and particularly to power boats.

it has long been known that variation in loading due to fuel, water and passengers causes a power boat to assume an attitude which may not be the best and most efficient for movement through the water at the highest speed and greatest engine efficiency.

It has heretofore been suggested that fixed surfaces or shingles be provided on the underside of the boat which assist the boat in moving through the water at a proper attitude under a particular loading. However, such fixed surfaces have the disadvantage that they are only applicable to a particular loading and have the further disadvantage that they make the boat very unworthy in a followin sea, that is, where the wind is blowing the same way that the boat is traveling. In a following sea, when a boat is lightly loaded and equipped with such shingles, the boat is likely to broach or be pitched to one side when a large wave gets under and picks up the stern of the boat. It has also been suggested that rigid adjustable shingles be provided. However, such shingles have not been found to be effective with power boats of the type wherein the bottom planking is not flat, that is, wherein the keel line tapers upwardly relative to the chine line at the stern of the boat.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 105,956, filed April 27, 1961, now United States Patent 3,062,167, dated November 6, 1962, entitled Trim Attachment for Power Boats, there is disclosed and claimed a trim attachment for power boats having a keel line tapered upwardly relative to a chine line which comprises a pair of trim members which are hinged to the stern of the boat about transverse axes. Each trim member is of substantially uniformly thick material and includes an upwardly extending flange along its rear edge. In addition, each trim member has a substantially fiat undersurface extending between the front and rear edge thereof. Extensible means are pivoted to the upwardly turned portion of each trim member and intermediate the ends thereof. Power operated means operate each trim member to control its attitude relative to the stern of the boat. Such an arrangement permits longitudinal and lateral trimming of the boat under varying load in order to obtain optimum attitude for movement of the boat through water, results in greater speed with less fuel consumption, improved visibility and permits adjustment so that compensation can be made for varying load conditions and can be removed in rough water.

In the attachments shown in the aforementioned patent application, a piano-type hinge is used for hinging the forward edge of each trim member to the transom of the boat. Such a hinge provides a liquid type hinge so that no water leaks or sprays upwardly through the hinge. Although such a hinge is effective, it is costly when made to produce the required liquid type seal.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved trim attachment having a novel hinge means which will produce a liquid seal.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a trim attachment which is easily manufactured and low in cost.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stern of a power boat embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a lpan view of a trim attachment before being applied to the power boat, parts being removed.

atent Patented Nov. 19, 1963 FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of a portion of the attachment shown in FIG. 3

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a modified form of trim attachment.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end View of the attachment shown in FIGS. 14.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of a modified form of attachment.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of an enlarged scale taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of a further modified form of attachment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the invention is adapted to be applied to a power boat 10 of the type wherein the bottom planking is not flat, that is, which has a keel 11 that tapers upwardly towards the stern 12v of the boat and a chine line 13 that tapers generally horizontally and downwardly relative to the keel 11 at the stern 12. Such a boat comprises a transom 14 at the stern which is usually inclined upwardly and rearwardly.

As further shown in FIG. 1, according to the invention, a pair of attachments 15 are provided on the transom 14 on each side of the center or keel line 11.

Each trim attachment 15 comprises a trim member or tab 16 (FIG. 2) which is made of generally uniformly thick material that is flexible, as presently described. Each tab 16 is generally rectangular and fiat and is hinged along its forward edge to a hinge member 17 on the stern of the boat at the junction of the transom with the undersurface 14 of the boat.

As shown in FIG. 4, hinged member 17 is formed along its lower edge with a curved portion 18 which defines a loop. The substantially flat free edge 19 of the curved portion 18 extends forwardly to define a space 20 opening downwardly. The substantially flat forward edge 21 of trim member 16 is bent upwardly and rearwardly and extends upwardly through the space 20 to hinge the trim member 16 to the hinge member 17.

Each trim member or tab 16 includes an upwardly turned portion 22 at the rear edge thereof so that a substantially fiat undersurface 23 is provided between the front and rear edge of the tab. The hinge is so located that the surface 23 is substantially coplanar to the edge forming the area of juncture between the transom 14 and the undersurface 18 of the boat.

Each trim tab it? is adapted to be individually moved downwardly to a position inclined downwardly with respect to the horizontal by a suitable ope"ating mechanism that comprises an inverted V-shaped link 25 that is made of a bent rod and includes arms 26, 27. Arm 26 extends through an opening in the portion 23 of trim member 16 adjacent the center portion thereof and near the hinge 1'7 and is fixed thereto by nuts 28. Arm 27 is pivoted to upwardly turned portion 22. intermediate its end. Specifically, the end 29 of arm 24 extends forwardly through an opening in portion 2?. and is pivoted thereto by cotter pins 31 The arms 26, 27 of link 25 lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal plane of the boat and at a right angle to the hinge.

Each member 25 is moved forwardly and rearwardiy and thereby pivots its respective trim tab 16 by a mechanism which includes a shaft 31 that is clamped to arm 26 and is slidable through an opening 32 in the transom 14. Shaft 31 has a screw 33 on the inner end thereof. Screw 33 meshes with a pinion 34 of an electric motor 35 fixed to a support 36 within the boat. When the electric motor 35 is operated, the shaft 31 is translated inwardly or outwardly to swing the trim tab 16 up or down. As shown in FIG. 3, a plastic" grommet '37 surrounds the shaft 31 and is held in position by a plastic collar 38 to form. a seal against the entry of water within the boat. Grommet 37 moves vertically with shaft 31. Collar 33 is formed with a vertically elongated opening through which shaft 31 extends.

V The tab is made of a uniformly thick material that is flexible, such as stainless steel sheet of about 12 to 14 gauge. As shown in FIG. 6, which is a view of the trim attachment on the port side of the boat, when the trim tab is extended downwardly below the horizontal and the boat is driven through the water, the inherent flexibility of the material of the trim member permits it to flex so that the tab conforms with the curvature of the bottom planking or surface at the stern. The left-hand portion of the tab tends to follow the contour of the chine line, namely, tapered downwardly, while the right-hand portion tends to follow the taper of the keel line, namely, tapering upwardly. On the starboard side of the boat, the trim tab 16 would be flexed in the opposite manner to conform to the bottom surface.

I have found that the maximum adjustment of each trim tab required for all conditions is approximately 10 degrees below the horizontal.

Tests utilizing the trim tabs show that the trim tabs not only trim the boat longitudinally but, in addition, laterally to compensate for variations in load placing the boat in the proper attitude for maximum speed and minimum fuel consumption. By properly trimming the boat, it is possible to obtain increased visibility. In addition, since the trim can be removed by moving the trim tabs to horizontal position, maximum safety is achieved in a following sea so that there is no danger of broaching the boat.

The trim tabs are relatively inexpensive and can be applied with a minimum of effort. Since the power mechanism is fixed within the boat, a minimum of strain is applied to the transom.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is preferred that the rear edges of the trim tab 16 the within a vertical plane extending downwardly from the upper edge of the transom so that no damage will be encountered in cases of backing up the boat against piling and the like.

In FIG. a modified form of trim attachment is shown wherein the hinged member 17 is fixed to a plate on the transom, rather than the undersurface 14 of the boat. In this form, the hinge member 17' has the lower portion 18' thereof curved in the form of a U with the forward edge 1 9 extending forwardly to define the space 2% into which the flange 21 of the trim member 16 extends.

In the modified form of trim attachment shown in FIG. 7, the trim tab 16' is hinged to the undersurface 14' in the same manner as shown in FIGS. 1-4. However, the inverted V-shaped link 45 has one arm 46 thereof formed with a ball '47 at the lower end thereof which, in turn, is seated in a spherical seat '48 formed on a bracket 49 bolted to the transom 14. The other arm 50 of the inverted V-shaped link 45 is threaded into a coupling 51 which, in turn, is formed with a ball 52. on the lower end thereof that sets in a seat 53 formed in a bracket 54 bolted to the flange 22 on the rear edge of the tab 16. By this arrangement, the length of the arm 50 can be :adjusted to accommodate the trim attachment to boats ihaving transoms of varying inclinations. The link 45 is actuated by a shaft 31 in the same manner as in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-5.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 10, the trim tab 16' is hinged to a stepped wall 55 formed on the undersurface 14 of the boat by a hinge arrangement similar to that shown in FIG. 5 in such a manner that the tab 16 is in substantially the same plane as the undersurface 14'. The tab is actuated by a shaft 56 pivoted to the rear edge of the tab by .a bracket 57 and connected at its upper end to a piston 53 which, in turn, is pivoted to a cross member 59 on the inside of the boat. The shaft 56 4- passes upwardly through a tube 6G forming a stand pipe in the boat.

In all forms of the invention, the hinge is maintained in assembled relation, that is, the trim member 16- is prevented from moving along the axis of the hinge by tabs 46 struck upwardly from the edge 19 and engaging the edges of cut-out portions 41 on the trim tags (FIG. 2) to maintain the hinge in assembled relation.

In all forms of the invention, the hinge provides an imperforate surface at the hinge axis so that water cannot leak or spray upwardly through the hinge.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 105,956, filed April 27, 1961.

I claim:

1. In a power boat having a keel and a chine line wherein the keel tapers upwardly relative to the chine line adjacent the stern of the boat, the combination comprising a pair of trim members hinged to the stern, one on each side of the center line of the boat, means for hinging each trim member along its forward edge to the boat in a line lying in the plane of the underside of the boat, said hinge means comprising a hinge member fixed to the stern of the boat and having an edge defining a transverse loop that extends reaiwardly along substantially the entire length of the hinge member with the free edge thereof being substantially flat and extending forwardly beneath the body portion thereof adjacent the underside of the boat and defining a space opening downwardly, each said trim member having a substantially flat flange along substantially the entire length of its forward edge extending upwardly and rearwardly at an acute angle to the body of the trim member into said space thereby hinging said trim member to said hinge member, means for preventing substantial relative axial movement between said trim member and said hinge member, each trim member having means adjacent the rear edge thereof tending to rigidify the member, each said trim member having a substantially flat undersurface with the forward edge of the member lying substantially in the plane of the flat underside of the boat, each said trim member having a portion thereof intermediate the forward and rear edges which is relatively flexible, and means extending between the boat and each said trim member intermediate the side edges thereof for varying the inclination of said trim member from a position substantially coplanar with the underside of the boat to a position forming a downward extending angle with the underside of the boat such that the trim member flexes with the inner edges moving upwardly to conform with the keel line and the outer side edges moving downwardly to conform with the chine line.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each said trim member has an upwardly turned portion at the rear edge thereof.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for preventing relative axial movement between said trim member and said hinge member comprising tabs struck outwardly and upwardly from said loop portion of said hinge member and adapted to be engaged by the edges of the flange of said trim member.

4. In a power boat having a keel and a chine line wherein the keel tapers upwardly relative to the chine line adjacent the stern of the boat, the combination comprising a pair of trim members, each said trim member being made of substantially uniformly thick material and comprising a forward edge and a rear edge which are generally parallel, means for hinging each said trim member to said boat at the area of juncture of the under side of the boat with the transom of the boat, said hinge means comprising a hinge member fixed to the stern of the boat and having an edge defining a transverse loop that extends rearwardly along substantially the entire length of the hinge member with the free edge thereof being substantially flat and extending forwardly beneath the body portion thereof adjacent the area of juncture of the stern and the underside of the boat and defining a space opening downwardly, each said trim member having a substantially flat flange along substantially the entire length of its forward edge extending upwardly and rear wardly at an acute angle to the body of the trim member into said space thereby hinging said trim member to said hinge member, each said trim member having an upwardly turned portion along the rear edge thereof and a substantially fiat relatively flexible undersurface extending between the front and rear edge thereof, and extensible means pivoted to each said trim member intermediate the ends thereof and extending to said transom such that the trim member flexes with the inner edges moving upwardly to conform with the keel line and the outer side edges moving downwardly to conform with the chine line.

5. For use in a power boat having a keel and a chine line wherein the keel tapers upwardly relative to the chine line adjacent the stern of the boat, the combination comprising a pair of trim members adapted to be hin ed to the stern, one on each side of the center line of the boat, means for hinging each trim member along its forward edge to the boat in a line lying in the plane of the underside of the boat, said hinge means comprising a hinge member fixed to the stern of the boat and having an edge defining a transverse loop that extends rearwardly along substantially the entire length of the hinge member with the free edge thereof being substantially flat and extending forwardly beneath the body portion thereof and defining a space opening downwardly, each said trim member having a substantially fiat flange along substantially the entire length of its forward edge extending upwardly and rearwardly at an acute angle to the body of the trim member into said space thereby hinging said trim member to said hinge member, each trim member having means adjacent the rear edge thereof tending to rigidify the member, each said trim member having a substantially flat undersurface with the rear edge of the member lying in the plane of the flat undersurface, each said trim member having a portion thereof intermediate the forward and rear edges which is relatively flexible, and power operated means adapted to extend between the boat and each said trim member intermediate the side edges thereof for varying the inclination of said trim member from a position substantially coplaner with the underside of the boat to a position forming a downwardly extending angle with the underside of the boat such that the trim member flexes with the inner edges moving upwardly to conform with the keel line and the outer side edges moving downwardly to conform with the chine line.

6. In a power boat having a keel and a chine line wherein the keel tapers upwardly relative to the chine line adjacent the stern of the boat, the combination comprising a pair of trim members, each said trim member being made of substantially uniformly thick material and comprising a forward edge and a rear edge which are generally parallel, means for hinging each said trim member to said boat at the area of juncture of the underside of the boat with the transom of the boat, said hinge means comprising a hinge member fixed to the stern of the boat and having an edge defining a transverse loop that extends rearwardly along substantially the entire length of the hinge member with the free edge thereof being substantially flat and extending forwardly beneath the body portion thereof adjacent the area of juncture of the transom and the underside of the boat and defining a space opening downwardly, each said trim member having a flange along substantially the entire length of its forward edge extending upwardly and rearwardly into said space thereby hinging said trim member to said hinge member, each said trim member having an upwardly turned portion along the rear edge thereof and a substantially flat relatively flexible undersurface extending between the front and rear edge thereof, and extensible means pivoted to each said trim member intermediate the ends thereof and extending to said transom, said extensible means comprising a link in the form of an inverted V having a pair of diverging arms, the free end of one arm being connected to the transom and the free end of the other arm being adjustably connected to the upwardly turned portion of the trim member intermediate the ends and substantially centrally thereof such that the trim member flexes with the inner edges moving upwardly to conform with the keel line and the outer side edges moving downwardly to conform with the chine line.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein the ends of said arms are connected in such a manner that they can move universally relative to said transom and trim member, respectively.

8. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein each said arms is provided with a ball and socket connection whereby it is connected to its respective member.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said ball and socket connection comprises a bracket mounted on each of said transom and said trim member and a ball on the free end of each said arm, each said bracket defining a socket in which its respective ball is positioned.

10. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said adjustable connection comprises means defining a longitudinally adjustable portion of said other arm.

11. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said extensible means comprises a power operated member extending through the transom and slidably connected to the arm which is connected to the transom.

12. In a power boat having a keel and a chine line wherein the keel tapers upwardly relative to the chine line adjacent the stern of the boat, the combination comprising a pair of trim members, each said trim member being made of substantially uniformly thick material and comprising a forward edge and a rear edge which are generally parallel, means for hinging each said trim member to said boat at the area of juncture of the underside of the boat with the transom of the boat, each said trim member having an upwardly turned portion along the rear edge thereof and a substantially flat relatively flexible undersurface extending between the front and rear edge thereof, and extensible means pivoted to each said trim member intermediate the ends there-of and extending to said transom, said extensible means comprising a link in the form of an inverted V having a pair of diverging arms, the free end of one arm being connected to the transom and the free end of the other arm being adjustably connected to the upwardly turned portion of the trim member intermediate the ends and substantially centrally thereof, said extensible means including a power operated member extending through the transom and slidably connected to said one arm which is connected to the transom.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 978,311 Lake Dec. 13, 1910 1,893,592 Newman Jan. 10, 1933 1,921,261 Potter Aug. 8, 1933 2,023,224 Hall Dec. 3, 1935 2,099,492 Luders Nov. 16, 1937 2,136,729 Stahl Nov. 15, 1938 2,302,661 Benson Nov. 24, 1942 2,807,228 Vandre Sept. 24, 1957 3,002,485 Curtis Oct. 3, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 80,670 Sweden June 12, 1934 474,908 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1937 

4. IN A POWER BOAT HAVING A KEEL AND A CHINE LINE WHEREIN THE KEEL TAPERS UPWARDLY RELATIVE TO THE CHINE LINE ADJACENT THE STERN OF THE BOAT, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A PAIR OF TRIM MEMBERS, EACH SAID TRIM MEMBER BEING MADE OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMLY THICK MATERIAL AND COMPRISING A FORWARD EDGE AND A REAR EDGE WHICH ARE GENERALLY PARALLEL, MEANS FOR HINGING EACH SAID TRIM MEMBER TO SAID BOAT AT THE AREA OF JUNCTURE OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BOAT WITH THE TRANSOM OF THE BOAT, SAID HINGE MEANS COMPRISING A HINGE MEMBER FIXED TO THE STERN OF THE BOAT AND HAVING AN EDGE DEFINING A TRANSVERSE LOOP THAT EXTENDS REARWARDLY ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE HINGE MEMBER WITH THE FREE EDGE THEREOF BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY BENEATH THE BODY PORTION THEREOF ADJACENT THE AREA OF JUNCTURE OF THE STERN AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BOAT AND DEFINING A SPACE OPENING DOWNWARDLY, EACH SAID TRIM MEMBER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT FLANGE ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF ITS FORWARD EDGE EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY AT AN ACUTE ANGLE TO THE BODY OF THE TRIM MEMBER INTO SAID SPACE THEREBY HINGING SAID TRIM MEMBER TO SAID HINGE MEMBER, EACH SAID TRIM MEMBER HAVING AN UPWARDLY TURNED PORTION ALONG THE REAR EDGE THEREOF AND A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE UNDERSURFACE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR EDGE THEREOF, AND EXTENSIBLE MEANS PIVOTED TO EACH SAID TRIM MEMBER INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF AND EXTENDING TO SAID TRANSOM SUCH THAT THE TRIM MEMBER FLEXES WITH THE INNER EDGES MOVING UPWARDLY TO CONFORM WITH THE KEEL LINE AND THE OUTER SIDE EDGES MOVING DOWNWARDLY TO CONFORM WITH THE CHINE LINE. 